Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, Narsingdi's toll-free cattle market is bustling. On Wednesday 27 May, large numbers of buyers and sellers were seen at the temporary Karimpur market in Karimpur union, as no toll or market fee is charged.

Every year this well-known and traditional market is held on the Karimpur football ground in Sadar upazila. Its main feature is that sellers pay no fee or toll for the animals they sell. So sellers can sell without extra costs, and buyers get a chance to buy animals relatively cheaply. This year the market was organised by the Karimpur Probashi Oikya Forum with the help of local students.

The organisers said they kept the market toll-free by paying the government lease of about Tk 80,000. Small, medium and large cows, buffaloes and goats of various breeds have been brought to the market.

People involved with the market said there are more animals this year than in other years. Special arrangements have been made for the security of buyers and sellers. Along with banking services, a locker system has been introduced to keep money safe, and there are machines to detect counterfeit notes.

Sakib Mia, who came to buy a cow, said: "I live in the Mohishasura area. There is a market in our area too, but I came to this Karimpur market. Animals of all sizes are always available here. I have liked a cow and we are bargaining. And the biggest thing is that you don't have to pay any toll when you buy a cow."

Another buyer, Mainuddin, said: "I have never seen so many cows and buffaloes at any other market in Narsingdi. I have never seen so many animals before. But prices seem a bit high. The weather isn't good either, so it is hard to walk around and look. There is hardly room to put your feet."

Seller Sona Mia said: "I bring cattle to this market every year and sales are good. This time I brought four cows, and two have been sold. Bargaining is going on for the other two. I hope they will be sold."

Sakil Mahmud of the Karimpur Probashi Oikya Forum said: "A toll-free cattle market is held here every year. This market is for everyone. The initiative was taken with the convenience of buyers and sellers in mind. Law and order is good, and various facilities, including counterfeit note detection machines, have been provided."

Monirul Islam Monir, member secretary of the Karimpur union BNP, said the market has been kept completely toll-free for the past eight years. "Every year the Probashi Oikya Forum pays the government lease and runs the market. There are banking facilities, lockers for keeping money and counterfeit note detection. Accommodation has also been arranged for those who come from far away with animals. So far 2,000 animals have been bought and sold, and we hope 3,000 will be sold. Many more animals have come this year than in other years."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.